No, not only positives, there were some negatives too, but very positive overall, and people who praised it weren't just fanboys or anything, it's not because it's previews that people lose their ability to judge something appropriately.

I never mentioned previews. I mentioned the embargo where a studio has a certain amount of control over what is said.

I don't think it's superhero fatigue at all. I think it's "brooder" fatigue. Everything has to be so serious and dark these days. We had three Batman movies with this but that was understandable since it's the nature of the character. Now "mope" and "gloom" seem to be trendy. Now Spider-man is doing it. Now Superman is doing it. Wolverine? Probably. It seems only Marvel is bucking that trend and having a balance with humor where things don't get so serious.

Some one please explain to me where these serious and darker and brooder films are? Besides the Dark Knight Trilogy and Watchmen, name them?

Stop blaming other movies for the faults of MOS. everyone is willing to accept a different take on superman

Nope, you can tell they have their different notions going in. Thus, the score is lowER than it should be if everyone is going in blank slates. It's foolish to deny "not my Superman" isn't affecting things.

Not saying everyone should believe this movie has no failings. "Not my Superman" makes the difference from "good to fair" and "fair to rotten".

It's funny that all the negative reviews sound like positives to me. Too much action? Want. It's an action movie with depth (they say that's a negative because action movies aren't supposed to be "deep")? Want. Not cheesy enough? Want. Not like the Chris Reeve films? Want.

^This. Me and my group had Superman-night last night. My fiance' baked a cake and everything. Popped in Superman II and I started to realize how BAD, BAD, BAD it's outdated. Being a diehard Supes fan, I love it, but being in the room full of people who aren't and can't wait to see this movie, it's so cheesy that inside-embarrassment set in. The campness and cheesiness of Reeve's character is a thing of the past and facepalm worthy to other people not understanding that era. Lots of laughs making fun of it, not with it. Nons groans and cackling were unbearable in a room full of others.

Love the Donner-verse, but it's way behind me. If it's anything like SR or 1978-80, audiences are in for a drawn out bore and laugh. I'm ready for the next step. BRING ON THE SERIOUSNESS.

I hate to be Buzz Killington over here, but i'm sure everyone else has notice the pattern that's been going on for the past 24 hours. The RT rating has been on a steady decline, and whenever 1-2 positives come out raising the score by 1%, negatives almost immediately come in to bring the rating right back down. What's gonna happen here is that the RT score will probably continue to go down.

I can't predict the future, but a final overall rotten score is kinda assured at this point

so, mos isn't fun and there's too much action? does that even make sense? i don't know i tend to equate 'splosions with fun. that''s just me though.

When the "action" is horribly photographed with zoomtype jump cuts, the people are all CGI Gumby figures and the rest of the movie doesn't make the most of it's time to make you really become emotionally invested about the characters... yes, it makes sense.

You people don't really understand what the reviews say, do you? The action is said to be too much for its own good. It is described as overlong and tiring; and the movie is mostly described as HEAVY and too SOMBER, while failing to be actually DEEP (and this is also due to the fact that attempts at something deeper get eaten up by the overlong action at the end).

It looks to suffer from poor pacing, and less than stellar writing. As far as the direction goes, this might be overblown and less than subtle.

I don't expect to see a bad movie, just not the dream film I was expecting.

I hate to be Buzz Killington over here, but i'm sure everyone else has notice the pattern that's been going on for the past 24 hours. The RT rating has been on a steady decline, and whenever 1-2 positives come out raising the score by 1%, negatives almost immediately come in to bring the rating right back down. What's gonna happen here is that the RT score will probably continue to go down.

I can't predict the future, but a final overall rotten score is kinda assured at this point

VOICE OF DOOM^ Seriously dude, it's time to get off Rotten Tomatoes. Did you see the movie yet? If not, I suggest you find out for yourself and don't like percentages cloud your way of enjoyment. It's unhealthy.

so, mos isn't fun and there's too much action? does that even make sense? i don't know i tend to equate 'splosions with fun. that''s just me though.

It can very well be. Action doesn't necessarily equate "fun." It's all about HOW you do stuff, not what you do. I, for example, found the finale of The Avengers to be quite tedious and overlong (after the first 10 minutes of slapping robot/aliens, I stopped caring), and thought it lacked "oomph" (which is whay maybe I'll enjoy the action in MOS more, who knows...).

When the "action" is horribly photographed with zoomtype jump cuts, the people are all CGI Gumby figures and the rest of the movie doesn't make the most of it's time to make you really become emotionally invested about the characters... yes, it makes sense.

- Jow

I've said it once and I'll say it again: I couldn't disagree with you more having seen the movie.

Overall it's a smart start to what should be the next big superhero franchise, with Christian Bale done, Robert Downey Jr. eyeing the door, and Tobey Maguire's replacement not impressing much. Man of Steel is more than just Avengers-sized escapism; it's an artistic introduction to a movie superhero we only thought we knew.

I grew up with Persall, so I have a very good idea of the things he likes and doesn't like. He's not usually a big comic book fan. He called Avengers fun, but brawny and lamebrainy. Even so, he gave it a B+ because it was a great popcorn flick with a lame villain (his words).

He gave Man Of Steel an A.

I've been reading Persall's reviews for about 20 years, since I was a teenager. I've met him a few times. I don't agree with him on his film selection, but I can always tell from his film reviews if I will like a movie or not.

Man Of Steel has ZERO issues if Steve Persall gave it an A.

For comparison's sake, Persall gave Avengers a B+, Dark Knight Rises a B, The Dark Knight an A (same as Man Of Steel), Captain America a B, and Thor a B-.

I hate to be Buzz Killington over here, but i'm sure everyone else has notice the pattern that's been going on for the past 24 hours. The RT rating has been on a steady decline, and whenever 1-2 positives come out raising the score by 1%, negatives almost immediately come in to bring the rating right back down. What's gonna happen here is that the RT score will probably continue to go down.

I can't predict the future, but a final overall rotten score is kinda assured at this point

VOICE OF DOOM^ Seriously dude, it's time to get off Rotten Tomatoes. Did you see the movie yet? If not, I suggest you find out for yourself and don't let percentages cloud your way of enjoyment. It's unhealthy. For the most part, it's critical because it didn't live up to the pedestal we put it on for critics to claim. Personally we can all still benefit with met expectations.

It's called SEEING IT before judging it. I predict great BO numbers. We'll see a change in attitude if those numbers roll in.